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What an at-home fertility test can tell you about your chances of conceiving

What an at-home fertility test can tell you about your chances of conceiving

I tested my hormones and ovarian reserve from home. Here's what I learned, what the results really mean and whether it's worth the money.

Close up of woman doing a finger prick test with a computer in the background

Hollie Bond

Published: June 3, 2026 at 10:37 AM

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As stories go mine is pretty much textbook… I met my husband-to-be at the age of 21, I got married at 27, I had a baby boy at 30 and then I had a baby girl at 34. The End! Or is it…?

I fell pregnant after a month of trying with my son and after just four months of trying with my daughter. No complications. Yes, I know, I’m extremely lucky.

But after the birth of my daughter, I waited and waited for that moment of clarity that so many other mothers told me about. The moment you know your family is complete. The moment you head up into the loft and put all the baby bouncers and bedside cribs on Vinted for another family to enjoy.

For me that moment never came. But then again neither did the moment where I felt 100% sure I wanted to have a third child.

So, for the last five years I’ve been stuck in limbo. Feeling sad that my children aren’t babies anymore, feeling envious when I see mothers with newborns, but also wondering what on earth a third child would do to our family dynamics.

If my heart couldn’t make the decision perhaps my head could when presented with some cold, hard data.

After all this time, I’ve got so many reasons not to have another child… the age gap would be huge, financially it would be a struggle, my body is so much older, we’re finally out of the difficult stage with our kids, we don’t have space, our family and friends would think we’re mad. Yet none of these reasons stop me daydreaming about baby number 3. He even has a name, which doesn’t help matters.

As I approach my 40th year it's now or never, so to help me decide I turned to science. If my heart couldn’t make the decision perhaps my head could when presented with some cold, hard data.

I wanted facts – was I on the precipice of perimenopause? Had my fertility fallen off a cliff? Is my constant fatigue and mood swings anything to do with out-of-whack hormones?

The answers came in the form of an at-home hormone and fertility test called Hertility Health. It’s a simple test you order online that promises clinical-grade results within 6 days of testing.

The simple blood test can give you insights into your egg count, answers to why you’re experiencing hormonal symptoms and a doctor-written report with a clinical care plan to help with any next steps, all for just £249.

It’s an ideal first step for women who want to take control of their own fertility or hormonal symptoms without being dismissed or having to wait for an appointment. And I hoped it would finally help me decide what the future of my family looked like. Crucially, you can take this test even if you’re using hormonal contraception or HRT.

How does Hertility Health work?

I’m not entirely sure how I think I could fit a third child into my life, because I already whizz around like a whirling dervish complaining that I have “no time”. Thankfully, the process of taking the at-home test and getting the results was so quick and straightforward that even I managed to fit it in without having a nervous breakdown.

Close up of woman hand using mobile smart phone for online shopping and digital banking via mobile app, surfing the internet, social media network, people lifestyle

It started with downloading the Hertility app and filling in a short health assessment. You’re asked why you’re interested in the test – fertility, menopause, hormonal symptoms, considering IVF and so on – before moving on to questions about symptoms, contraception, lifestyle and your periods. All of this helps determine which hormones need to be tested.

I hit send and the very next day a neat little box arrived containing my blood sample kit, along with clear instructions on how to use it. I had to wait until the third day of my next period to take the test, which involved pricking my finger and letting the blood drip into a small vial until it reached the required level.

If you’re not comfortable taking your own blood sample, you can pay a small fee to have a nurse do it for you. I decided to tackle it myself first thing in the morning and, admittedly, ended up using all five lancets and getting blood everywhere – so in hindsight the nurse option might have been wiser! Still, I eventually managed to collect the required amount and popped the sample safely in the post that same day.

What does Hertility screen for (and is it accurate)?

Close-up of a gloved hand inserting a blood sample tube into an automated medical analyzer in a clinical lab. The image conveys precision, sterile technique, and advanced diagnostic technology used in modern healthcare and laboratory testing.

The test can diagnose up to 18 of the most prevalent reproductive and endocrine conditions known to impact fertility, such as PCOS, thyroid dysfunction, hyperprolactinaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, premature ovarian insufficiency, early menopause, and symptom patterns consistent with endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, uterine polyps, and pelvic inflammatory disease. It can also give you an initial indication of your ovarian reserve, basically how many eggs you’ve got left!

I was worried the at-home nature of the test meant it wouldn’t be anywhere near as accurate as a hospital test, but the only real difference is the speed of results and convenience.

“Hertility’s at-home blood tests use the same laboratory methods as those used in NHS and private hospitals. All samples are analysed in UKAS-accredited laboratories,” says Hertility founder Dr Helen O’Neill.

“NHS tests are usually taken with a vein-to-vial blood draw in a clinic. Hertility’s test collects a smaller sample via finger prick but measures the same hormones to the same standard. Both use clinically validated assays, so accuracy is comparable. The key difference is convenience, you can take a Hertility test at home, on your own schedule, without waiting for a referral.”

The results that helped me decide which path to take

After just a few days I was happily typing away at my computer when a ping alerted me to the fact that my results were in. I opened the email with interest, wondering what was going on inside me that I had no idea about.

Being human, I ignored the green ticks and zoned straight in on the “out of range” results. And there it was in black and white…

I was told that doctors had analysed 7 hormones and they were listed below with either green ticks next to them (as was the case for 4 hormones) or warning triangles (next to the other 3).

Being human, I ignored the green ticks and zoned straight in on the “out of range” results. And there it was in black and white… Anti Müllerian Hormone (which relates to my ovarian reserve): “low”. Meanwhile a couple of hormones relating to ovulation were deemed “out of range: high”, one of which explained my fatigue.

Digging further on the next page I could see exactly what these results meant for me, and was shocked to see that my AMH levels, which are a good indicator of how many eggs you have left, were not just “low” but at the very low end of the chart.

Within days, and after a deep and meaningful with my husband, a huge decision had been made…

Thankful that I was working from home that day, I had a little cry. I’m not sure why I was surprised… I am 39 after all, but seeing the results, made it real. It confirmed that I was officially approaching perimenopause, that I wasn’t young anymore and crucially if I tried for another child, it was very unlikely to be as easy as before.

With my test I was entitled to a free 30-minute face-to-face consultation with a doctor, but I decided that for now I was going to let the news settle and see how I felt later. It’s a great idea though to stop you spiralling into panic after your results and to have a clear and professional view of what it all means rather than falling back on Dr Google!

Within days, and after a deep and meaningful with my husband, a huge decision had been made… our family was complete.

Back view of family enjoying on a pier at sunset.

To try and have a third child when I have low ovarian reserve, plus a couple of other hormones out of whack could end in heartbreak and cause unnecessary stress to us all. We have two beautiful, healthy kids. It was time to close the door on the baby years and focus on making memories as a family of four.

I was, of course, sad for the baby that never was, but it felt like a huge weight had lifted.

What does it mean if your test shows low ovarian reserve?

If, unlike me, though you’re using the test before you’ve completed your family, a result of low ovarian reserve doesn’t have to be the end of your journey.

Many women with low ovarian reserve conceive naturally.

Dr O’Neill

“Low ovarian reserve means there are fewer eggs remaining than expected for someone’s age,” says Dr O’Neill. “On its own, it does not tell us whether ovulation is happening, how quickly conception might occur, or whether pregnancy is possible. If periods remain regular, this is a reassuring sign that ovulation is likely still occurring, and many women with low ovarian reserve conceive naturally.”

In fact, finding out you have low ovarian reserve before you start the process could be empowering and allow you to take control of your own journey to conceiving.

a physiotherapist performing an ultrasound scan for pelvic floor treatment

"When results suggest a low egg reserve, we always recommend gathering more information, typically through a pelvic ultrasound scan to assess antral follicle count, to confirm what’s happening in the ovaries,” says Dr O’Neill. “Low ovarian reserve is a signal for informed planning rather than panic. With the right information and support, many women go on to conceive, either naturally or with fertility treatment where needed.”

Once I was over the shock, I immediately then started worrying that having low ovarian reserve meant I was going to go through the menopause earlier than expected, but thankfully that’s not the case.

“Low ovarian reserve and menopause are connected, but one does not predict the other,” says Dr O’Neill.

“A low ovarian reserve result means you have fewer eggs remaining than average for your age. It does not tell you when you will go through menopause. Tests like AMH measure egg quantity, not egg quality, your ability to get pregnant, or the exact timing of menopause.”

The next steps

Once you’re armed with your results there are plenty of next steps you can take if you want to, or you can use the results as a springboard to see your GP. The test isn’t a diagnosis though, and it is designed to be taken to a specialist or your doctor to continue investigations or treatment.

In the end, my result wasn’t what I’d secretly hoped for – but it was exactly what I needed.

Within Hertility itself you can choose to continue your investigations privately with the option to pay for a pelvic ultrasound scan, a private gynaecologist consultation, counselling, a nutrition consultation or a menopause consultation. Hertility can also offer IVF support and egg freezing.

In the end, my result wasn’t what I’d secretly hoped for – but it was exactly what I needed. For years I’d been circling the same question, unable to move forward or fully let go. Seeing the reality of my fertility in black and white forced me to confront something I’d been avoiding: sometimes clarity doesn’t come from your heart or gut, it comes from the facts.

Taking the test didn’t just give me information about my hormones – it helped me make a decision. Instead of living in that in-between space of “maybe one day”, I could finally close the chapter with confidence. And while there will probably always be a small part of me that wonders about the baby who never arrived, I’m also incredibly grateful for the family I already have.

For me, the biggest takeaway from the experience is that knowledge really is power. Whether it helps you plan for another child, seek medical advice for hormonal symptoms you’re struggling with, or – like me – find peace with the life you already have, understanding your fertility can make an uncertain future feel a little clearer. And for me clarity was the most valuable result of all.

You can buy the Hertility Advanced Hormone and Fertility test for £249 at hertilityhealth.com

Authors

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Hollie BondSenior Digital Journalist

Hollie is Senior Digital Journalist at MadeForMums. She writes articles about pregnancy, parenting, child health and getting pregnant. She has written for a number of national lifestyle magazines and websites over the past 12 years including Family History Monthly, You and Your Wedding and Muddy Stilettos. She has two children aged 5 and 8 and hasn't slept since 2017!